Commissioners debate smoking at playgrounds bill

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – There was a lot of positive discussion at the Hamilton County Commission meeting this morning, about supporting a bill before the Tennessee General Assembly, to ban smoking on all government owned playgrounds.

The commission is considering a resolution in support of House Bill 9 and Senate Bill 9, giving local governments the option to ban smoking at all playgrounds they own or operate.

Hamilton County Health Department administrator Becky Barnes, says that since the vast majority of adults who smoke, start at a young age, this is one way to try to lower that exposure.

“Smoking is still the number one preventable cause of death. 20% of us still smoke. Most people that smoke as adults, 90 percent start under 18, so clearly we would like to decrease children on playgrounds, seeing adults smoking and being exposed to second hand smoke.”

The commission will vote on the measure next week.